Hair drying apparatus

ABSTRACT

A hair drying apparatus includes a body defining an air inlet, an air outlet and an air flow path therethrough. An impeller generates a flow of air from the air inlet, through the air flow path and to the air outlet. A motor drives the impeller and a heating element heats air flowing through the air flow path. The heating element, motor and impeller are supported within the body. A handle is mounted to the body and a housing is at least partially surrounded by the body and at least partially surrounds the air flow path. The motor is supported within the housing. At least one vibration isolation member is located between an inner surface of the body and an outer surface of the housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates broadly to a hair drying apparatus and, more particularly, to a portable hand-held hair drying apparatus that is configured to emit relatively low levels of sound and/or noise as compared to conventional hair dryers.

Hand-held hair dryers are generally well known in the prior art. A typical portable electric hair dryer includes an elongated body that encloses a motor and a fan. In general, the motor of the hair dryer is supported by the body so that the motor vibrations are directly transferred from the motor to the body. Such vibrations generate generally useless and unwanted sound and/or noise In addition, the orientation and/or configuration of the air flow path through the body generally creates a relatively high level of noise that is unpleasant to a user.

Therefore, it would be desirable to create a drying apparatus that overcomes the above-described drawbacks of conventional hair dryers. Specifically, it would be desirable to create a drying apparatus having structure that spaces and supports the motor away from the body to reduce the amount of vibration that travels from the motor to the body. It would also be desirable to create a drying apparatus having insulating structure proximate the air inlet of the drying apparatus to absorb at least some of the noise created by the motor and fan and to block the line of sight from outside the drying apparatus to the fan and motor. In addition, it would be desirable to create a drying apparatus with a handle removably mountable to the body, in which a portion of the handle surrounds a portion of the body to provide an additional layer of insulation to the drying apparatus to reduce the amount of noise emitted to the external environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to a hair drying apparatus that includes a body defining an air inlet, an air outlet and air flow path therethrough. An impeller generates a flow of air from the air inlet, through the air flow path into the air outlet. A motor drives the impeller and a heating element heats the air flowing through the air flow path. The heating element, motor and impeller are supported within the body. A handle is mounted to the body and the housing is at least partially surrounded by the body and at least partially surrounds the air flow path. The motor is supported within the housing. At least one vibration isolation member is located between an inner surface of the body and an outer surface of the housing.

In another aspect, a preferred embodiment of the present application is directed to a hair drying apparatus comprising a body defining an air inlet, an air outlet and an air flow path therethrough. An impeller generates a flow of air from the air inlet, through the air flow path and into the air outlet. A motor drives the impeller and a heating element heats the air flowing through the air flow path. The heating element, motor and impeller are supported within the body. A handle is mounted to the body and a sound-absorbing member is co-axially aligned with the air flow path and is located proximate the air inlet.

In yet another aspect, a preferred embodiment of the present application is directed to a hair drying apparatus comprising a body defining an air inlet, an air outlet and an air flow path therethrough. An impeller generates a flow of air from the air inlet, through the air flow path into the air outlet. A motor drives the impeller. A heating element heats the air flowing through the air flow path. The heating element, motor and impeller are supported within the body. A handle is removably mountable to the body. The handle has an upper portion surrounding an outer surface of at least a portion of the body and a blower portion extending generally perpendicular from a longitudinal axis of the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of several preferred embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention described in the present application, there are shown in the drawings, three embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a left side of a drying apparatus in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the left side of the drying apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the drying apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional top plan view of the drying apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional top plan view of a drying apparatus in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional top plan view of a drying apparatus in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional left side elevational view of the first preferred embodiment of the drying apparatus shown in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional left side elevational view of the second preferred embodiment of the drying apparatus shown in FIG. 4B; and

FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional left side elevational view of the third preferred embodiment of the drying apparatus shown in FIG. 5C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right,” “left,” “lower,” “upper,” “front” and “rear” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the drying apparatus and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the above-listed words, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like elements indicate like elements throughout, this is shown FIGS. 1-4A and 5A a first presently preferred embodiment of a hair drying apparatus, generally designated 10, configured to operate relatively quietly and emit relatively low levels of sound and/or noise as compared to conventional hair dryers. The hair drying apparatus 10 is preferably in a form of a portable hand-held electric hair dryer. However, it is understood by those skilled in the art that the general size, shape and appearance of the hair drying apparatus 10 of the present embodiment is not limited to that shown and described herein, but may be in the form of other similar devices, such as a wall mounted drying apparatus, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the hair drying apparatus 10 includes a generally elongated, tubular, hollow body 12 defining an air inlet 12a proximate to a first end of a longitudinal axis 11 that extends through the geometric center of the body 12 and an air outlet 12b at a second or opposite end of the longitudinal axis 11. An air flow path through the body 12 is located between the air inlet 12 a and the air outlet 12 b. The air inlet 12 a is generally radially oriented to the longitudinal axis 11 of the body 12 and the air outlet 12 b is preferably oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis 11 of the body 12. During operation of the hair dryer 10, the flow of air bends ninety degrees from the air inlet 12 a to the air outlet 12 b that is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the body 12. As those skilled in the art understand that sound propagates in a straight line, the sound generated in the interior of the drying apparatus 10 reflects off the inner walls or inner surface of the drying apparatus 10, and is thus deadened and/or absorbed preventing at least some of the sound from escaping through the air outlet 12 b to the external environment.

As seen in FIG. 1, the air inlet 12 a may simply be an opening in a side wall of the body 12 to allow the passage of air therethrough. Alternatively, as seen in FIGS. 4A and 5A, the air inlet 12 a may be in the form of a plurality of louvered vents 26 that are generally oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 11 of the body 12. The louvered vents 26 also may act as an air intake filter to help streamline the flow of incoming air and to prevent undesired objects or particles from entering the interior of the drying apparatus 10. As is understood by those skilled in the art, this orientation of the air inlet 12 a with respect to the air outlet 12 b blocks the line of sight from the external environment of the drying apparatus 10 to various structure located within the interior of the body 12. Thus, the angled and/or somewhat convoluted orientation of the air flow path helps to reduce the noise emitted by the drying apparatus 10 by preventing the noise from flowing in a straight path directly out of the interior of the drying apparatus 10.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4A and 5A, the drying apparatus 10 includes at least one sound-absorbing member 24 that is located proximate the air inlet 12 a and is co-axially aligned with the air flow path. Consistent with the orientation of the air outlet 12 b, the sound-absorbing member 24 is generally oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis 11 of the body 12 and, thus, faces the longitudinal axis of the body 12. The sound-absorbing member 24 includes an interior surface 24 a that is generally oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 11 of the body 12 and may extend into the interior of the body 12. A rear surface 24 b is preferably surrounded by and in engagement with a interior surface of the body 12. As is understood by those skilled in the art, the positioning of the sound-absorbing member 24 helps to reduce the amount of noise released by the hair drying apparatus 10 to the external environment. Specifically, sound and/or noise generated by internal structure of the drying apparatus 10 is primarily absorbed by the sound-absorbing member 24 instead of being released to the external environment. As seen in FIGS. 4A and 5A, in the embodiment that includes the louvered vents 26, the louvered vents 26 surround at least a portion of the interior surface 24 a of the sound-absorbing member 24. In the present embodiment, the interior surface 24 a of the sound-absorbing member 24 is preferably formed in the shape of a bell-shaped curve to facilitate air flow.

As seen FIGS. 2-4A and 5A, the hair drying apparatus 10 includes an impeller 20 or fan for generating a flow of air from the air inlet 12 a, through the air flow path and to and out of the air outlet 12 b. A motor 18, which is preferably located downstream of the impeller 20, is configured to drive the impeller 20. A motor mount 60, as shown in FIG. 3, properly positions and stabilizes at least the motor 18 within the housing 12. As seen in FIG. 3, the impeller 20 includes a central portion 20a operatively connected to a drive shaft or armature 18 a of the motor 18. The impeller 20 further includes a blade assembly 20 b, which is rotated by and generally extends perpendicularly from an outer surface of the central portion 20 a, having at least one but preferably a plurality of spaced-apart fan blades. Preferably, electrical energy is supplied to the motor 18 by a conventional electrical power socket (not shown) via a conventional power cord (not shown). However, power or energy may be supplied to the motor 18 by one or more batteries or some other power source if desired.

The hair drying apparatus 10 further includes a heating element 40 for heating air flowing through the air flow path. Preferably, the heating element 40 is formed of a conventional heating coil that generally surrounds and is supported by a mica-board structure 17. The heating element 40 is preferably located proximate the air outlet 12 b and downstream of the motor 18. However, it is understood by those skilled in the art that the configuration of the heating element 40, motor 18 and impeller 20 may be modified and/or repositioned as necessary to improve the sound reducing and/or sound absorbing properties of the drying apparatus 10. The heating element 40, motor 18 and impeller 20 are preferably supported by and within the body 12.

A handle 16 is removably mountable to the body 12 of the hair drying apparatus 10. The handle 16 is formed of a first half 16 a removably mountable to a second half 16 b and the handle halves 16 a, 16 b are nearly mirror images of each other. Each handle half 16 a, 16 b includes an upper portion 16 c that generally surrounds an outer surface of at least a portion of the body 12. Preferably, an inner surface of each upper portion 16 c is in direct contact with the outer surface of the body 12. Further, each handle half 16 a, 16 b includes a lower portion 16 d that extends generally perpendicularly from the longitudinal axis 11 of the body 12 and is sized and shaped to be received by the hand of a user. The upper portion 16 c of each handle half 16 a, 16 b is generally arcuate or curved in shape to conform to the generally arcuate or curved shape of the outer surface of the body 12.

As is understood by those skilled in the art, the upper portion 16 c of each handle half 16 a, 16 b surrounds a portion of the body 12 to provide an extra layer of insulation to the hair drying apparatus 10 to reduce the amount of sound and/or noise that is emitted by the drying apparatus 10 to the external environment. Further, the handle 16 is removably mountable to the body 12 such that a manufacturer or user can interchange various designs of the body 12 or handle 16 to create a unique appearance and/or configuration of the hair drying apparatus 10. As seen in FIG. 1, the handle 16 may include one or more fastening members 19, such as screws, rivets or bolts, that allow various portions of the handle 16 to be removed from each other and from the body 12 of the drying apparatus 10.

Referring again to FIGS. 2-4A and 5A, the hair drying apparatus 10 also includes a housing 28 at least partially surrounded by the body 12 and at least partially surrounding the air flow path. Preferably, at least the motor 18 is supported by and within the housing 28. However, other structure of the drying apparatus 10, such as the impeller 20 and/or the heating element 40, may also be supported by and within the housing 28 depending on the particular configuration of the hair drying apparatus 10. The housing 28 is generally tubular in shape and includes a left side 28 a that matingly engages a right side 28b (FIG. 3). Both sides 28 a, 28 b of the housing 28 are generally arcuate or curved in shape and may be attached to each other in any one of a number of ways, such as by friction fitting, adhesive or fasteners. The housing 28 has a first open end 28 c proximate the impeller 20 and a second opposite open end 28 d proximate the heating element 40. The housing 28 shares the same longitudinal axis 11 as the body 12. The housing 28 is generally sized and shaped to fit within the body 12 without directly touching any portion of the interior surface of the body 12.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4A and 5A, the hair drying apparatus 10 further includes a flow acceleration nozzle 30 that is at least partially surrounded by the body 12. As is understood by those skilled in the art, the flow acceleration nozzle 30 of the hair drying apparatus 10 facilitates flow of air from the heating element 40 to the air outlet 12 b. The flow acceleration nozzle 30 is slightly conical in shape and extends from a first open end 30 c to a second, opposite open end 30 d. A radius of the second open end 30 d is preferably smaller than a radius of the first open end 30 c. Similar to the housing 28, the flow acceleration nozzle 30 preferably includes two halves 30 a, 30 b. However, it is understood by those skilled in the art that either or both of the housing 28 and the flow acceleration nozzle 30 may be formed of a single unitary piece. The flow acceleration nozzle 30 is preferably positioned downstream of the housing 28 within the body 12 to help streamline the flow of air that travels over and leaves the heating element 40. Since the flow acceleration nozzle 30 converges to a relatively small diameter at the second open end 30 d, a direct line of site to the motor 18 and/or impeller 20 is prevented and flow acceleration nozzle 30 minimizes the direct radiation of sound and/or noise from the interior of the drying apparatus 10 to the external environment.

As seen in FIGS. 2-4A and 5A, the hair drying apparatus 10 includes a vibration isolation member 32 positioned or located between the inner surface of the body 12 and an outer surface that the housing 28. Preferably, the drying apparatus 10 includes two or more spaced-apart vibration isolation members that surround or engage a portion of the housing 28. The at least one vibration isolation member 32 creates or at least partially fills a space or gap G between the inner surface of the body 12 and the outer surface of the housing 28. The at least one vibration isolation member 32 is preferably in the form of a band or tubular member 32 a or a ring 32 b, as is described in detail below.

In one embodiment, the vibration isolation member 32 is in the form of one or more bands or tubular members 32 a (FIGS. 2, 3 and 5A) that surround at least a portion of the outer surface of the housing 28. In an alternative embodiment, the at least one vibration isolation member 32 is in the form of one or more rings 32 b (FIGS. 3 and 4A) that each surround a projection 50 that extends generally perpendicular from the outer surface of the housing 28. In this embodiment, each ring 32 b covers and/or is in facing engagement with at least a portion of the housing 28.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 3 and 4A, each half 28 a, 28 b of the housing 28 may include two or more spaced-apart projections 50 that extend generally perpendicular from the outer surface of the housing 28. A ring 32 b surrounds at least the entire sidewall of each projection 50, but preferably each ring 32 b is large enough that when the housing 28 is positioned within the body 12, each ring 32 b is sandwiched therebetween. The rings 32 b and band 32 a are preferably formed of an elastomeric material, but may be formed of virtually any vibration dampening material, such as a foam material. The one or more rings 32 b reduce transmitted vibration created by the motor 18 from traveling through the housing 28 into the body 12. The one more bands 32 a reduce radiated noise created by the motor 18. The reduction in the vibration emitted by the motor 18 that travels to the body 12 reduces the overall sound and/or noise that is emitted to the external environment. It is understood by those skilled in the art that the drying apparatus 10 may employ both one or more bands 32 a and one or more rings 32 b (see FIG. 4A) to help reduce the vibration, and thus the noise, created by the motor 18 that travels to the body 12.

As seen in FIGS. 2, 3, 4A and 5A, the band 32 a may be in the form of sound deadening tape or other similar material that generally surrounds at least a portion of the outer surface of the housing 28. As is understood by those skilled in the art, the sound deadening tape provides an additional layer of sound absorbing material to help reduce the sound and/or noise generated by the drying apparatus 10 that is released to the external environment.

In operation, the hair drying apparatus 10 emits less sound and/or noise to the external environment, as compared with conventional drying apparatuses, by: 1) blocking a direct line of sight from outside of the drying apparatus 10 to the motor 18 and impeller 20; by 2) isolating the impeller 20 and the motor 18 from the body 12; and/or 3) adding sound-absorbing material 24 and/or dampening material 32 a, 32 b. Thus, sound and/or noise generated by the motor 18 or the impeller 20 is prevented from radiating unimpeded directly out of the air inlet 12 a or the air outlet 12 b.

Referring to FIGS. 4B and 5B, a second preferred embodiment of the hair drying apparatus 210 is shown, including like referenced numerals with the addition of 200 to indicate like elements throughout. The hair drying apparatus 210 of the second preferred embodiment is substantially similar in structure and operation to the embodiment described above. One difference between the second preferred embodiment and the first preferred embodiment is the shape and size of the sound-absorbing member 224 of the hair drying apparatus 210. Similar to the first preferred embodiment, the sound-absorbing member 224 is generally co-axially aligned with at least a portion of the air flow path and is located proximate the air inlet 212 b. However, the interior surface 224 a of the sound-absorbing member 224 is more elongated in shape than in the first preferred embodiment and extends generally closer to a upstream side of the impeller 220 than the interior surface 24 a of the sound-absorbing member 24 of the first preferred embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 4C and 5C, a third preferred embodiment of the hair drying apparatus 310 is shown, including like referenced numerals with the addition of 300 to indicate like elements throughout. The hair drying apparatus 310 of the third preferred embodiment is substantially similar in structure and operation to the first and second preferred embodiments described above. One difference between the third preferred embodiment of the hair drying apparatus 310 and the preferred embodiments described above is that the sound-absorbing member 324 is generally cylindrical or rectangular in cross-sectional shape when viewed from above (FIG. 4C) and from the side (FIG. 5C). The generally planer interior surface 324 a of the sound-absorbing member 324 is spaced further from the upstream side of the impeller 320 than in the previous embodiments.

It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of a broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof. 

1. A hair drying apparatus comprising: a body defining an air inlet, an air outlet and an air flow path therethrough; an impeller for generating a flow of air from said air inlet, through said air flow path and to said air outlet; a motor for driving said impeller; a heating element for heating air flowing through said air flow path, said heating element, motor and impeller supported within said body; a handle mounted to said body; a housing at least partially surrounded by said body and at least partially surrounding said air flow path, said motor supported within said housing; and at least one vibration isolation member located between an inner surface of said body and an outer surface of said housing.
 2. The hair drying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one vibration isolation member surrounds at least a portion of said housing.
 3. The hair drying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one vibration isolation member creates or at least partially fills a space between said inner surface of said body and said outer surface of said housing.
 4. The hair drying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one vibration isolation member is in the form of a band that surrounds said outer surface of at least a portion of said housing.
 5. The hair drying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one vibration isolation member is in the form of a ring that surrounds a projection extending generally perpendicular from said outer surface of said housing.
 6. The hair drying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drying apparatus includes two spaced-apart vibration isolation members.
 7. The hair drying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a flow acceleration nozzle at least partially surround by said body, wherein said flow acceleration nozzle promotes flow of air from said heating element to said air outlet.
 8. The hair drying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said air inlet is in the form of a louvered vent that is oriented generally perpendicular with respect to a longitudinal axis of said body.
 9. The hair drying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a sound-absorbing member co-axially aligned with said air flow path and located proximate said air inlet.
 10. A hair drying apparatus comprising: a body defining an air inlet, an air outlet and an air flow path therethrough; an impeller for generating a flow of air from said air inlet, through said air flow path and to said air outlet; a motor for driving said impeller; a heating element for heating air flowing through said air flow path, said heating element, motor and impeller supported within said body; a handle mounted to said body; and a sound-absorbing member co-axially aligned with said air flow path and located proximate said air inlet.
 11. The hair drying apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said sound-absorbing member includes an interior surface perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said body.
 12. The hair drying apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said air inlet is in the form of a louvered vent that is oriented generally perpendicular with respect to a longitudinal axis of said body.
 13. The hair drying apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said louvered vent surrounds at least a portion of an interior surface of said sound-absorbing member.
 14. The hair drying apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: a housing at least partially surrounded by said body and at least partially surrounding said air flow path; and a flow acceleration nozzle at least partially surround by said body, wherein said flow acceleration nozzle promotes flow of air from said heating element to said air outlet.
 15. A hair drying apparatus comprising: a body defining an air inlet, an air outlet and an air flow path therethrough; an impeller for generating a flow of air from said air inlet, through said air flow path and to said air outlet; a motor for driving said impeller; a heating element for heating air flowing through said air flow path, said heating element, motor and impeller supported within said body; and a handle removably mountable to said body, said handle having an upper portion surrounding an outer surface of at least a portion of said body and a lower portion extending generally perpendicular from a longitudinal axis of said body.
 16. The hair drying apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said handle is formed of a first half removably mountable to a second half.
 17. The hair drying apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said handle halves are near mirror images of each other.
 18. The hair drying apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said upper portion of each handle half is generally arcuate in shape to conform to an arcuate shape of said outer surface of said body.
 19. The hair drying apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising: a housing at least partially surrounded by said body and at least partially surrounding said air flow path; and a flow acceleration nozzle at least partially surround by said body, wherein said flow acceleration nozzle promotes flow of air from said heating element to said air outlet.
 20. The hair drying apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said air inlet is in the form of a louvered vent that is oriented generally perpendicular with respect to a longitudinal axis of said body. 